List of cities in South Korea

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Special city

(특별시, teukbyeol-si)

Special autonomous city

(특별자치시, teukbyeoljachi-si)

Metropolitan cities

(광역시, gwangyeok-si)

Big municipal cities

(대도시, daedo-si)

Administrative cities

(행정시, haengjeong-si)

Cities

(시, si)

The largest cities of South Korea have an autonomous status equivalent to that of provinces. Seoul, the largest city and capital, is classified as a teukbyeolsi (Special City), while the next six-largest cities are classified as gwangyeoksi (Metropolitan Cities). Smaller cities are classified as si ("cities") and are under provincial jurisdiction, at the same level as counties.

## City status

[edit]

Article 10 of the Local Autonomy Act defines the standards under which a populated area may become a city: an area which is predominantly urbanised and has a population of at least 50,000; a gun which has an urbanised area with a population of at least 50,000; or a gun which has a total population of at least 150,000 and multiple urbanised areas each with a population of at least 20,000.[1] Cases outside of these standards require specific legislation, such as the special bill by the National Assembly to designate Gyeryong as a city.[citation needed]

Under Article 3 of the Local Autonomy Act, a city with a population of less than 500,000 may create administrative subdivisions in the form of dong in its urbanised area and eup or myeon in its rural area, while a city with a population of more than 500,000 may create administrative subdivisions in the form of non-autonomous gu.[2]

## Classifications for large municipal cities

[edit]

The national government can designate cities of at least 500,000 inhabitants as special status cities. This status expands the scope of administrative authority delegated from the provincial government to the city government.[3] There is no legal standard for becoming a metropolitan city, but it was usually promoted to a metropolitan city when the population was close to 1,000,000. However,there are four cities in Suwon, Changwon, Goyang, and Yongin that have a population of more than 1 million but have not become metropolitan cities, there is no further promotion.[citation needed]

### Big city

[edit]

A big city is a city (other than a special city or a metropolitan city) that has a population greater than 500,000, and has been designated by an order of the national government under Article 198 of the Local Autonomy Act. Big municipal cities are given the power to subdivide themselves into non-autonomous districts (Korean: 일반구; Hanja: 一般區).[3] However, some big municipal cities have chosen not to divide themselves into districts, such as Bucheon, Gimhae, Hwaseong, or Namyangju. Currently, South Korea has a total of 17 big cities. "Specific city" (특정시; 特定市) is an unofficial term for big city with municipal status.[citation needed]

Due its legal status as an administrative city, Jeju City cannot be designated as a "big city" under the Local Autonomy Law, despite having an estimated population exceeding 500,000 as of 2022. The designation of "administrative city" was created by the law which granted special self-governing status to Jeju Province; that law specifically states that the Local Autonomy Act would not apply to administrative cities. As such, Jeju City does not enjoy special autonomy and only has the same legal powers as the much smaller Seogwipo. The administrative authority of Jeju City is trying to expand the scope of administrative authority delegated from the provincial government to the city government.[4]

### Special-status city

[edit]

A special-status city is a subclass of big municipal city that has a population greater than 1,500,000.

## List

[edit]

Notes

* The name "Seoul" does not originate from hanja. The official Chinese translation is written as 首爾/首尔, which is a transcription based on the pronunciation of "Seoul" in Mandarin variant of Chinese language, and thus is not hanja of Korean language. In old Chinese documents, 漢城/汉城 was used. As an affix or abbreviation, the character gyeong (京), which means "capital", is used.
* Seoul was designated a "Special Independent City" (Teukbyeol-jayusi; 특별자유시; 特別自由市) separate from Gyeonggi Province on August 16, 1946; it became a "Special City" on August 15, 1949.

Name | Korean | No.

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Hangul | Hanja
| Special City | 특별시 | 特別市 | 1
| Special Self-Governing City | 특별자치시 | 特別自治市 | 1
| Metropolitan City | 광역시 | 廣域市 | 6
| Big Municipal city | 대도시 | 大都市 | 17
| Administrative City | 행정시 | 行政市 | 2
| City | 시 | 市 | 60
City | Hangul | Hanja | Province | Population
(2017) | Area | Density | Founded

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Andong | 안동시 | 安東市 | North Gyeongsang | 168,226  | 1521.26  | 110.6  | 1963-01-01
Ansan | 안산시 | 安山市 | Gyeonggi | 689,326  | 149.06  | 4624.5  | 1986-01-01
Anseong | 안성시 | 安城市 | Gyeonggi | 182,784  | 553.47  | 330.3  | 1998-04-01
Anyang | 안양시 | 安養市 | Gyeonggi | 598,392  | 58.46  | 10235.9  | 1973-07-01
Asan | 아산시 | 牙山市 | South Chungcheong | 303,043  | 542.15  | 559.0  | 1986-01-01
Boryeong | 보령시 | 保寧市 | South Chungcheong | 103,620  | 569.01  | 182.1  | 1986-01-01
Bucheon | 부천시 | 富川市 | Gyeonggi | 851,245  | 53.40  | 15940.9  | 1973-07-01
Busan | 부산광역시 | 釜山廣域市 | City-cnone | 3,496,779  | 765.94  | 4565.3  | 1963-01-01
Changwon | 창원시 | 昌原市 | South Gyeongsang | 1,063,116  | 736.34  | 1443.8  | 1980-04-01
Cheonan | 천안시 | 天安市 | South Chungcheong | 619,286  | 636.22  | 973.4  | 1963-01-01
Cheongju | 청주시 | 淸州市 | North Chungcheong | 835,802  | 153.45  | 5446.7  | 1949-08-15
Chuncheon | 춘천시 | 春川市 | Gangwon | 280,565  | 1116.35  | 251.3  | 1949-08-15
Chungju | 충주시 | 忠州市 | North Chungcheong | 208,288  | 983.70  | 211.7  | 1956-07-08
Daegu | 대구광역시 | 大邱廣域市 | City-cnone | 2,484,688  | 885.60  | 2805.7  | 1981-07-01
Daejeon | 대전광역시 | 大田廣域市 | City-cnone | 1,514,354  | 539.86  | 2805.1  | 1989-01-01
Dangjin | 당진시 | 唐津市 | South Chungcheong | 166,782  | 694.08  | 240.3  | 2012-01-01
Dongducheon | 동두천시 | 東豆川市 | Gyeonggi | 98,062  | 95.66  | 1025.1  | 1981-07-01
Donghae | 동해시 | 東海市 | Gangwon | 93,289  | 180.17  | 517.8  | 1980-04-01
Gangneung | 강릉시 | 江陵市 | Gangwon | 213,747  | 1040.07  | 205.5  | 1955-09-01
Geoje | 거제시 | 巨濟市 | South Gyeongsang | 256,979  | 401.61  | 639.9  | 1989-01-01
Gimcheon | 김천시 | 金泉市 | North Gyeongsang | 142,277  | 1009.50  | 140.9  | 1949-08-14
Gimhae | 김해시 | 金海市 | South Gyeongsang | 529,577  | 463.28  | 1143.1  | 1981-07-01
Gimje | 김제시 | 金堤市 | North Jeolla | 87,658  | 544.99  | 160.8  | 1989-01-01
Gimpo | 김포시 | 金浦市 | Gyeonggi | 364,808  | 276.64  | 1318.7  | 1998-04-01
Gongju | 공주시 | 公州市 | South Chungcheong | 109,750  | 940.36  | 116.7  | 1986-01-01
Goyang | 고양시 | 高陽市 | Gyeonggi | 1,040,648  | 267.31  | 3893.0  | 1992-02-01
Gumi | 구미시 | 龜尾市 | North Gyeongsang | 420,048  | 615.52  | 682.4  | 1978-02-15
Gunpo | 군포시 | 軍浦市 | Gyeonggi | 284,735  | 36.36  | 7831.0  | 1989-01-01
Gunsan | 군산시 | 群山市 | North Jeolla | 277,328  | 675.38  | 410.6  | 1949-08-15
Guri | 구리시 | 九里市 | Gyeonggi | 194,298  | 33.30  | 5834.8  | 1986-01-01
Gwacheon | 과천시 | 果川市 | Gyeonggi | 62,929  | 35.86  | 1754.9  | 1986-01-01
Gwangju | 광주광역시 | 光州廣域市 | City-cnone | 1,469,583  | 501.26  | 2931.8  | 1986-11-01
Gwangju | 광주시 | 廣州市 | Gyeonggi | 328,940  | 430.96  | 763.3  | 2001-03-21
Gwangmyeong | 광명시 | 光明市 | Gyeonggi | 339,071  | 38.50  | 8807.0  | 1981-07-01
Gwangyang | 광양시 | 光陽市 | South Jeolla | 154,164  | 453.84  | 339.7  | 1989-01-01
Gyeongju | 경주시 | 慶州市 | North Gyeongsang | 259,228  | 1324.39  | 195.7  | 1955-09-01
Gyeongsan | 경산시 | 慶山市 | North Gyeongsang | 257,902  | 411.70  | 626.4  | 1989-01-01
Gyeryong | 계룡시 | 鷄龍市 | South Chungcheong | 42,737  | 60.74  | 703.6  | 2003-09-19
Hanam | 하남시 | 河南市 | Gyeonggi | 213,028  | 93.07  | 2288.9  | 1989-01-01
Hwaseong | 화성시 | 華城市 | Gyeonggi | 644,498  | 687.54  | 937.4  | 2001-03-21
Icheon | 이천시 | 利川市 | Gyeonggi | 210,565  | 531.09  | 396.5  | 1996-03-01
Iksan | 익산시 | 益山市 | North Jeolla | 301,061  | 506.70  | 594.2  | 1949-08-15
Incheon | 인천광역시 | 仁川廣域市 | City-cnone | 2,944,009  | 1032.41  | 2851.6  | 1981-07-01
Jecheon | 제천시 | 堤川市 | North Chungcheong | 136,389  | 883.09  | 154.4  | 1980-04-01
Jeongeup | 정읍시 | 井邑市 | North Jeolla | 115,083  | 692.93  | 166.1  | 1981-07-01
Jeonju | 전주시 | 全州市 | North Jeolla | 652,234  | 206.22  | 3162.8  | 1949-08-15
Jeju | 제주시 | 濟州市 | Jeju | 470,957  | 977.80  | 481.6  | 1955-09-01
Jinju | 진주시 | 晋州市 | South Gyeongsang | 347,056  | 712.62  | 487.0  | 1949-08-15
Naju | 나주시 | 羅州市 | South Jeolla | 105,080  | 172.8  | 608.15  | 1981-07-01
Namyangju | 남양주시 | 南楊州市 | Gyeonggi | 662,183  | 458.54  | 1444.1  | 1989-01-01
Namwon | 남원시 | 南原市 | North Jeolla | 84,140  | 752.50  | 111.8  | 1981-07-01
Nonsan | 논산시 | 論山市 | South Chungcheong | 123,094  | 554.85  | 221.9  | 1996-03-01
Miryang | 밀양시 | 密陽市 | South Gyeongsang | 108,322  | 799.01  | 135.6  | 1989-01-01
Mokpo | 목포시 | 木浦市 | South Jeolla | 237,464  | 50.08  | 4741.7  | 1949-08-15
Mungyeong | 문경시 | 聞慶市 | North Gyeongsang | 74,555  | 911.17  | 81.8  | 1986-01-01
Osan | 오산시 | 烏山市 | Gyeonggi | 208,873  | 42.76  | 4884.8  | 1989-01-01
Paju | 파주시 | 坡州市 | Gyeonggi | 431,035  | 672.57  | 640.9  | 1996-03-01
Pocheon | 포천시 | 抱川市 | Gyeonggi | 154,381  | 826.50  | 186.8  | 2003-10-19
Pohang | 포항시 | 浦項市 | North Gyeongsang | 516,497  | 1128.76  | 457.6  | 1949-08-14
Pyeongtaek | 평택시 | 平澤市 | Gyeonggi | 472,141  | 454.62  | 1038.5  | 1986-01-01
Sacheon | 사천시 | 泗川市 | South Gyeongsang | 114,854  | 398.25  | 288.4  | 1956-07-08
Sangju | 상주시 | 尙州市 | North Gyeongsang | 101,729  | 1254.83  | 81.1  | 1986-01-01
Samcheok | 삼척시 | 三陟市 | Gangwon | 70,120  | 1185.86  | 59.1  | 1986-01-01
Sejong | 세종특별자치시 | 世宗特別自治市 | City-bnone | 244,939  | 465.23  | 526.5  | 2012-07-01
Seogwipo | 서귀포시 | 西歸浦市 | Jeju | 171,431  | 870.87  | 196.9  | 1981-07-01
Seongnam | 성남시 | 城南市 | Gyeonggi | 974,755  | 141.82  | 6873.2  | 1973-07-01
Seosan | 서산시 | 瑞山市 | South Chungcheong | 170,810  | 740.66  | 230.6  | 1989-01-01
Seoul | 서울특별시 | 서울特別市 | City-anone | 9,930,478  | 605.27  | 16406.7  | 1946-08-16
Siheung | 시흥시 | 始興市 | Gyeonggi | 403,398  | 135.02  | 2987.7  | 1989-01-01
Sokcho | 속초시 | 束草市 | Gangwon | 81,797  | 105.00  | 779.0  | 1963-01-01
Suncheon | 순천시 | 順天市 | South Jeolla | 279,540  | 907.41  | 308.1  | 1949-08-14
Suwon | 수원시 | 水原市 | Gyeonggi | 1,194,276  | 121.09  | 9862.7  | 1949-08-14
Taebaek | 태백시 | 太白市 | Gangwon | 46,892  | 303.57  | 154.5  | 1981-07-01
Tongyeong | 통영시 | 統營市 | South Gyeongsang | 138,001  | 238.85  | 577.8  | 1955-09-01
Uijeongbu | 의정부시 | 議政府市 | Gyeonggi | 438,753  | 81.59  | 5377.5  | 1963-01-01
Uiwang | 의왕시 | 義王市 | Gyeonggi | 156,410  | 54.00  | 2896.5  | 1989-01-01
Ulsan | 울산광역시 | 蔚山廣域市 | City-cnone | 1,117,656  | 1057.50  | 1056.9  | 1997-07-15
Wonju | 원주시 | 原州市 | Gangwon | 338,374  | 872.56  | 387.8  | 1955-09-01
Yangju | 양주시 | 楊州市 | Gyeonggi | 205,977  | 309.77  | 664.9  | 2003-10-19
Yangsan | 양산시 | 梁山市 | South Gyeongsang | 318,836  | 485.18  | 657.1  | 1996-03-01
Yeoju | 여주시 | 驪州市 | Gyeonggi | 111,558  | 608.64  | 183.3  | 2013-09-23
Yeongcheon | 영천시 | 永川市 | North Gyeongsang | 100,384  | 920.29  | 109.1  | 1981-07-01
Yeongju | 영주시 | 榮州市 | North Gyeongsang | 109,281  | 669.05  | 163.3  | 1980-04-01
Yeosu | 여수시 | 麗水市 | South Jeolla | 288,818  | 501.27  | 576.2  | 1949-08-14
Yongin | 용인시 | 龍仁市 | Gyeonggi | 991,622  | 591.36  | 1676.8  | 1996-03-01

## Cities by population

[edit]

This is a list cities of South Korea by population including provincial-level divisions: special city (특별시/特別市) and metropolitan cities (광역시/廣域市), and municipal-level division: cities (시/市). Other municipal-level divisions: counties (군/郡 which have populations under 50K) and districts (구/區) are not included. All population data are based on the South Korean population and housing census 2000–2020.[5]

Rank | Division | 2020 | 2015 | 2010 | 2005 | 2000

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1 |  Seoul | (Special city) | 9,586,195 | 9,904,312 | 9,631,482 | 9,762,546 | 9,853,972
2 | Busan | (Metropolitan city) | 3,349,016 | 3,448,737 | 3,393,191 | 3,512,547 | 3,655,437
3 | Incheon | (Metropolitan city) | 2,945,454 | 2,890,451 | 2,632,035 | 2,517,680 | 2,466,338
4 | Daegu | (Metropolitan city) | 2,410,700 | 2,466,052 | 2,431,774 | 2,456,016 | 2,473,990
5 | Daejeon | (Metropolitan city) | 1,488,435 | 1,538,394 | 1,490,158 | 1,438,551 | 1,365,961
6 | Gwangju | (Metropolitan city) | 1,477,573 | 1,502,881 | 1,466,143 | 1,413,644 | 1,350,948
7 | Suwon | Gyeonggi | 1,210,150 | 1,194,313 | 1,054,053 | 1,039,233 | 944,239
8 | Ulsan | (Metropolitan city) | 1,135,423 | 1,166,615 | 1,071,673 | 1,044,934 | 1,012,110
9 | Yongin | Gyeonggi | 1,066,975 | 971,327 | 847,138 | 686,842 | 384,741
10 | Goyang | Gyeonggi | 1,045,497 | 990,073 | 897,222 | 864,402 | 762,598
11 | Changwon[6] | South Gyeongsang | 1,029,389 | 1,059,241 | 1,047,488 | 1,075,326 | 1,076,448
12 | Seongnam | Gyeonggi | 922,025 | 948,757 | 936,267 | 931,019 | 912,222
13 | Hwaseong[7] | Gyeonggi | 880,859 | 608,725 | 474,160 | 282,124 | 185,979
14 | Cheongju[8] | North Chungcheong | 855,326 | 833,276 | 804,119 | 752,768 | 701,256
15 | Bucheon | Gyeonggi | 833,148 | 843,794 | 842,482 | 833,931 | 757,832
16 | Ansan | Gyeonggi | 717,345 | 747,035 | 699,063 | 669,839 | 554,998
17 | Namyangju | Gyeonggi | 696,033 | 629,061 | 526,639 | 424,446 | 339,545
18 | Cheonan | South Chungcheong | 682,199 | 629,062 | 565,201 | 518,171 | 415,818
19 | Jeonju | North Jeolla | 666,517 | 658,172 | 646,512 | 622,092 | 615,804
20 | Gimhae | South Gyeongsang | 552,427 | 534,124 | 484,244 | 428,893 | 330,829
21 | Pyeongtaek | Gyeonggi | 542,522 | 457,873 | 381,731 | 374,262 | 342,806
22 | Anyang | Gyeonggi | 542,336 | 585,177 | 596,772 | 609,886 | 578,845
23 | Siheung | Gyeonggi | 535,147 | 425,184 | 393,293 | 384,304 | 304,260
24 | Pohang | North Gyeongsang | 501,109 | 511,804 | 508,736 | 488,433 | 515,187
25 | Jeju (City)[9] | Jeju (Prov.) | 492,306 | 451,758 | 398,677 | 391,132 | 366,809
26 | Uijeongbu | Gyeonggi | 449,572 | 421,579 | 415,170 | 397,694 | 354,422
27 | Gimpo | Gyeonggi | 474,546 | 352,683 | 217,280 | 192,716 | 148,576
28 | Paju | Gyeonggi | 460,541 | 415,345 | 323,955 | 239,823 | 177,128
29 | Gumi | North Gyeongsang | 416,603 | 421,075 | 399,019 | 381,583 | 339,457
30 | Gwangju[10] | Gyeonggi | 385,141 | 310,278 | 224,269 | 204,266 | 124,789
31 | Sejong[11] | (Special autonomous city) | 353,933 | 204,088 | 80,542 | 80,389 | 79,745
32 | Wonju | Gangwon | 352,429 | 330,854 | 309,803 | 283,583 | 267,849
33 | Jinju | South Gyeongsang | 352,403 | 349,788 | 335,297 | 336,355 | 339,413
34 | Yangsan | South Gyeongsang | 351,206 | 297,532 | 249,529 | 215,845 | 191,147
35 | Asan | South Chungcheong | 340,518 | 319,929 | 272,282 | 206,851 | 179,900
36 | Gwangmyeong | Gyeonggi | 298,116 | 338,509 | 326,418 | 319,452 | 333,596
37 | Iksan | North Jeolla | 285,312 | 301,723 | 294,479 | 306,974 | 322,636
38 | Chuncheon | Gangwon | 284,645 | 281,596 | 274,220 | 260,234 | 252,177
39 | Gyeongsan | North Gyeongsang | 283,733 | 278,500 | 260,643 | 240,371 | 226,713
40 | Hanam | Gyeonggi | 279,795 | 154,838 | 137,569 | 121,646 | 120,149
41 | Gunpo | Gyeonggi | 275,571 | 285,721 | 274,198 | 268,917 | 262,593
42 | Suncheon | South Jeolla | 272,449 | 265,390 | 257,800 | 261,519 | 265,724
43 | Yeosu | South Jeolla | 271,505 | 273,761 | 268,727 | 277,420 | 303,115
44 | Gunsan | North Jeolla | 269,023 | 275,155 | 258,845 | 249,212 | 272,129
45 | Gyeongju | North Gyeongsang | 261,778 | 262,310 | 252,750 | 266,131 | 275,132
46 | Geoje | South Gyeongsang | 246,965 | 261,371 | 225,014 | 193,398 | 167,231
47 | Osan | Gyeonggi | 240,645 | 213,840 | 180,996 | 131,792 | 102,287
48 | Yangju[12] | Gyeonggi | 233,286 | 205,988 | 183,673 | 149,931 | 107,440
49 | Icheon | Gyeonggi | 226,212 | 209,003 | 192,918 | 187,514 | 179,081
50 | Mokpo | South Jeolla | 224,509 | 239,524 | 248,694 | 244,543 | 250,336
51 | Chungju | North Chungcheong | 218,412 | 211,005 | 201,361 | 204,248 | 217,510
52 | Gangneung | Gangwon | 216,542 | 215,677 | 217,481 | 220,706 | 227,856
53 | Anseong | Gyeonggi | 203,030 | 194,765 | 175,824 | 157,632 | 132,906
54 | Guri | Gyeonggi | 192,051 | 180,063 | 184,503 | 186,954 | 160,485
55 | Seogwipo[13] | Jeju (Prov.) | 178,552 | 153,861 | 129,734 | 139,554 | 145,732
56 | Seosan | South Chungcheong | 176,379 | 169,221 | 155,082 | 143,692 | 142,972
57 | Dangjin[14] | South Chungcheong | 168,955 | 163,762 | 135,106 | 112,267 | 117,447
58 | Uiwang | Gyeonggi | 160,230 | 154,879 | 143,378 | 143,568 | 117,594
59 | Andong | North Gyeongsang | 159,412 | 168,581 | 165,399 | 169,436 | 181,974
60 | Pocheon[15] | Gyeonggi | 157,939 | 163,388 | 136,580 | 139,472 | 135,758
61 | Gwangyang | South Jeolla | 143,928 | 144,414 | 137,100 | 135,583 | 132,568
62 | Gimcheon | North Gyeongsang | 139,145 | 137,540 | 126,823 | 135,166 | 147,269
63 | Jecheon | North Chungcheong | 134,768 | 136,350 | 133,626 | 132,483 | 143,537
64 | Tongyeong | South Gyeongsang | 127,984 | 137,208 | 127,896 | 121,115 | 123,747
65 | Nonsan | South Chungcheong | 119,707 | 124,246 | 117,686 | 124,779 | 137,452
66 | Yeoju[16] | Gyeonggi | 113,352 | 109,937 | 100,052 | 98,441 | 97,412
67 | Naju | South Jeolla | 113,293 | 92,582 | 77,825 | 86,823 | 99,233
68 | Sacheon | South Gyeongsang | 111,184 | 113,335 | 106,175 | 106,532 | 110,912
69 | Gongju[17] | South Chungcheong | 108,333 | 113,542 | 120,660 | 126,484 | 130,223
70 | Jeongeup | North Jeolla | 106,706 | 110,627 | 109,458 | 115,416 | 128,892
71 | Yeongju | North Gyeongsang | 103,818 | 109,266 | 108,268 | 113,670 | 126,415
72 | Miryang | South Gyeongsang | 103,228 | 103,069 | 98,564 | 105,651 | 115,787
73 | Yeongcheon | North Gyeongsang | 100,353 | 97,669 | 94,350 | 103,289 | 110,918
74 | Boryeong | South Chungcheong | 99,088 | 101,852 | 97,091 | 96,992 | 109,423
75 | Sangju | North Gyeongsang | 95,473 | 98,760 | 97,559 | 105,600 | 116,365
76 | Dongducheon | Gyeonggi | 95,239 | 97,424 | 90,433 | 78,897 | 72,366
77 | Donghae | Gangwon | 87,801 | 90,255 | 90,321 | 93,018 | 96,280
78 | Sokcho | Gangwon | 80,054 | 79,846 | 80,505 | 84,706 | 87,880
79 | Gimje | North Jeolla | 79,733 | 84,269 | 82,739 | 90,376 | 102,428
80 | Namwon | North Jeolla | 78,097 | 80,499 | 78,425 | 85,828 | 94,810
81 | Mungyeong | North Gyeongsang | 68,212 | 71,863 | 68,692 | 70,813 | 90,778
82 | Samcheok | Gangwon | 65,939 | 69,509 | 67,131 | 67,957 | 75,592
83 | Gwacheon | Gyeonggi | 58,018 | 64,817 | 66,319 | 56,587 | 66,592
84 | Taebaek | Gangwon | 41,494 | 46,715 | 51,400 | 55,241 | 54,164
85 | Gyeryong[18] | South Chungcheong | 40,854 | 39,243 | 41,395 | 31,646 | 27,104

## Renamed cities

[edit]

Before | Hangul | Hanja | After | Hangul | Hanja | Renamed date

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|
|
|
|
|

Chungmu | 충무시 | 忠武市 | Tongyeong | 통영시 | 統營市 | 1995-01-01
Daecheon | 대천시 | 大川市 | Boryeong | 보령시 | 保寧市 | 1995-01-01
Donggwangyang | 동광양시 | 東光陽市 | Gwangyang | 광양시 | 光陽市 | 1995-01-01
Geumseong | 금성시 | 錦城市 | Naju | 나주시 | 羅州市 | 1986-01-01
Gyeongseong | 경성부 | 京城府 | Seoul | 서울특별시 | 서울特別市 | 1949-08-15
Iri | 이리시 | 裡里市 | Iksan | 익산시 | 益山市 | 1995-05-10
Jangseungpo | 장승포시 | 長承浦市 | Geoje | 거제시 | 巨濟市 | 1995-01-01
Jeomchon | 점촌시 | 店村市 | Mungyeong | 문경시 | 聞慶市 | 1995-01-01
Jeongju | 정주시 | 井州市 | Jeongeup | 정읍시 | 井邑市 | 1995-01-01
Migeum | 미금시 | 渼金市 | Namyangju | 남양주시 | 南楊州市 | 1995-01-01
Onyang | 온양시 | 溫陽市 | Asan | 아산시 | 牙山市 | 1995-01-01
Samcheonpo | 삼천포시 | 三千浦市 | Sacheon | 사천시 | 泗川市 | 1995-05-10

## Dissolved cities

[edit]

City | Hangul | Hanja | Founded | Dissolved | Merged division

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|
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|
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Busan | 부산부 | 釜山府 | 1914-03-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Busan | 부산시 | 釜山市 | 1949-08-15 | 1963-01-01 | upgraded into a Directly administered city and changed into a Metropolitan city in 1995-01-01
Cheongju | 청주부 | 淸州府 | 1946-06-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Chuncheon | 춘천부 | 春川府 | 1946-06-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Daegu | 대구부 | 大邱府 | 1914-03-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Daegu | 대구시 | 大邱市 | 1949-08-15 | 1981-07-01 | upgraded into a Directly administered city and changed into a Metropolitan city in 1995-01-01
Daejeon | 대전부 | 大田府 | 1935-10-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Daejeon | 대전시 | 大田市 | 1949-08-15 | 1989-01-01 | upgraded into a Directly administered city and changed into a Metropolitan city in 1995-01-01
Gunsan | 군산부 | 群山府 | 1914-03-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Gwangju | 광주부 | 光州府 | 1935-10-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Gwangju | 광주시 | 光州市 | 1949-08-15 | 1986-11-01 | upgraded into a Directly administered city and changed into a Metropolitan city in 1995-01-01
Keijō | 경성부 | 京城府 | 1914-03-01 | 1946-08-16 | upgraded into a Special independent city and changed into a Special city in 1949-08-15
Incheon | 인천부 | 仁川府 | 1914-03-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Incheon | 인천시 | 仁川市 | 1949-08-15 | 1981-07-01 | upgraded into a Directly administered city and changed into a Metropolitan city in 1995-01-01
Iri | 이리부 | 裡里府 | 1947-02-23 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Jeonju | 전주부 | 全州府 | 1935-10-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Jinhae | 진해시 | 鎭海市 | 1955-09-01 | 2010-07-01 | merged into Changwon
Jinju | 진주부 | 晋州府 | 1939-10-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Masan | 마산부 | 馬山府 | 1914-03-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Masan | 마산시 | 馬山市 | 1949-08-15 | 2010-07-01 | merged into Changwon
Mokpo | 목포부 | 木浦府 | 1914-03-01 | 1949-08-15 | upgraded into a city (시; 市)
Songjeong | 송정시 | 松汀市 | 1986-11-01 | 1988-01-01 | merged into Gwangju
Songtan | 송탄시 | 松炭市 | 1981-07-01 | 1995-05-10 | merged into Pyeongtaek
Ulsan | 울산시 | 蔚山市 | 1962-06-01 | 1997-07-15 | upgraded into a Metropolitan city
Yeocheon | 여천시 | 麗川市 | 1986-01-01 | 1998-04-01 | merged into Yeosu

## Claimed cities

[edit]

Main article: Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces

City | Hangul | Hanja | Province | Founded

|
|
|
|

Cheongjin | 청진시 | 淸津市 | North Hamgyeong | 1949-05-23
Gaeseong | 개성시 | 開城市 | Gyeonggi*  | 1949-05-23
Haeju | 해주시 | 海州市 | Hwanghae | 1949-05-23
Hamheung | 함흥시 | 咸興市 | South Hamgyeong | 1949-05-23
Heungnam | 흥남시 | 興南市 | South Hamgyeong | 1949-05-23
Jinnampo | 진남포시 | 鎭南浦市 | South Pyeongan | 1949-05-23
Najin | 나진시 | 羅津市 | North Hamgyeong | 1949-05-23
Pyeongyang | 평양시 | 平壤市 | South Pyeongan | 1949-05-23
Sariwon | 사리원시 | 沙里院市 | Hwanghae | 1949-05-23
Seongjin | 성진시 | 城津市 | North Hamgyeong | 1949-05-23
Sinuiju | 신의주시 | 新義州市 | North Pyeongan | 1949-05-23
Songnim | 송림시 | 松林市 | Hwanghae | 1949-05-23
Wonsan | 원산시 | 元山市 | South Hamgyeong | 1949-05-23

## Gallery

[edit]

* 4 - Daegu

* 5 - Daejeon

* 6 - Gwangju

* 7 - Suwon

* 8 - Ulsan

* 9 - Changwon

* 12 - Seongnam

## See also

[edit]

* Administrative divisions of South Korea
* List of largest cities
* List of South Korean regions by GDP

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 지방자치법 [Local Autonomy Act] (As Amended by Law 18661). 28 December 2021. An English translation is available from the Korea Legislative Research Institute, but is out of date: Local Autonomy Act (As Amended by Law 16057). 24 December 2018. Article 7 of the 2018 version of the law is similar in content to Article 10 of the 2021 version of the law, aside from cross-references to other articles.
2. ^ Article 3, Local Autonomy Act (2021). Article 3 of the 2018 version of the law has similar provisions.
3. ^ a b Article 198, Local Autonomy Act (2021). Article 175 of the 2018 version of the law has similar provisions but is less detailed.
4. ^ 제주시 1월부터 법률상 자격없는 인구 50만 대도시. Jeju Sori. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022. See also Special Act on the Establishment of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Development of Free International City (As Amended by Law 17883). 5 January 2021.
5. ^ Population Census, Korean Statistical Information Service, 2000–2020, Statistics Korea
6. ^ Includes former city Masan and Jinhae.
7. ^ Includes former county Hwaseong.
8. ^ Includes former county Cheongwon. Some villages of Cheongwon are out to merge with Sejong. Numbers before 2010 contain populations of those villages.
9. ^ Includes former county Bukjeju (North Jeju).
10. ^ Includes former county Gwangju.
11. ^ Includes former county Yeongi; Current Sejong city contains some villages from Gongju and former county Cheongwon, North Chungcheong, and the population statistics of Yeongi county did not contain populations of those villages.
12. ^ Includes former county Yangju.
13. ^ Includes former county Namjeju (South Jeju).
14. ^ Includes former county Dangjin.
15. ^ Includes former county Pocheon.
16. ^ Includes former county Yeoju.
17. ^ Some villages are out to merge with Sejong. Numbers before 2010 contain populations of those villages.
18. ^ Includes former Gyeryong branch office of Nonsan city.

## Sources

[edit]

* The Principal Cities of South Korea
* Korea.net-Facts about Korea
* Korea.net-Facts about Korea

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cities in South Korea.

* Largest cities in South Korea
* Korean Statistical Information Service (in Korean)

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*[서울]: The name "Seoul" does not originate from hanja. The official Chinese translation is written as 首爾/首尔, which is a transcription based on the pronunciation of "Seoul" in Mandarin variant of Chinese language, and thus is not hanja of Korean language. In old Chinese documents, 漢城/汉城 was used. As an affix or abbreviation, the character ''gyeong'' (京) is used, which means "capital".
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